Someone appeared and fixed the train of Emma’s dress, disappeared just as quickly.
“Anyway,” Jo said. “The Amazons were mythological women warriors, so really it’s a compliment.”
Emma smiled, a real smile, without even thinking about it. “Didn’t they kill all men who entered their lands?”
Jo slid her a glance, smirking slightly. “See? Definitely a compliment.”
Emma giggled, and Jo grinned, and then just like that, they were ushered on. Jo let go of Emma’s wrist and placed her hand gently on her lower back instead, directing her toward the theater. Emma had survived the red carpet. She had even forgotten she was there for a moment. She tried to think of neither the number of pictures that now existed of her nor the gentle stroke of Jo’s thumb against the skin of her back.
Emma’s phone buzzed inside her clutch. She wondered if Avery had seen pictures of her already, if she showed up in the red-carpet coverage.
“Shall we?” Jo said, gesturing toward the doors.
Emma put her phone on do not disturb and followed Jo into the building.
3
JO
A phone call from her publicist before Jo arrived at the studio was never a good sign. She rolled up the privacy window between her and Chloe, then answered the phone.
“Good morning, Amir.”
“Yes, right, good morning,” her publicist said. He didn’t bother with small talk, which Jo appreciated. “Have you seen the response to your red-carpet stunt?”
Jo bristled. “I wasn’t aware I had pulled any kind of stunt.”
“People think you and your assistant are dating.”
Jo couldn’t help a short laugh.
“I’m not joking,” Amir said. “We have to get ahead of this.”
“Amir.” Jo tried to keep the incredulity out of her voice. He was only trying to do his job. “There’s nothing to get ahead of.”
“This rumor is going to get legs,” Amir said. “And we don’t need to give anyone any ammunition when it comes to reasons you shouldn’t be involved with Agent Silver.”
He never bullshitted her, she had to give him that. Amir didn’t sugarcoat his opinion.
“I don’t comment on my love life,” Jo said. “And I’ll be officially announced as writer and producer of Agent Silver on Thursday—that’ll be enough to make them forget about whatever this is.”
“Since you aren’t actually dating your assistant”—he said it with less certainty than Jo would’ve hoped—“this isn’t technically your love life. A short denial, nothing special.”
“I know Judy stressed that there would be no such denials before she handed you the reins here.”
Judy had been Jo’s publicist since she was thirteen. Not commenting on her love life began because no teenager needs that kind of public scrutiny. Jo grew up, but the no comment policy stuck. Nothing changed when Judy retired two years ago.
“Ms. Jones, you do not need any more bad press at this moment,” Amir said. “A short statement would be an easy fix.”
Amir obviously couldn’t see her, but Jo shook her head anyway.
“A short statement after almost thirty years of never commenting would not be an easy fix,” she said. “You know better than that.”
Amir sighed. Jo could only assume it was because she was right.
“Perhaps Emma could—”
“Do not involve Emma in this,” Jo said.
“She’s already involved. And most of what’s being written isn’t particularly complimentary.”
Jo’s fingers twitched. The thought of Emma being disparaged in the media made her consider letting Amir make a statement.
“Leave it be,” she said instead. “It’ll pass.”
Amir sighed again, but he didn’t fight her. They said their goodbyes as Chloe pulled up to the studio.
From the look on Emma’s face as she stood by her desk with Jo’s coffee in hand, she’d seen the rumors. Jo made a split-second decision to pretend she herself hadn’t.
“Thank you,” she said, taking her coffee.
Emma followed her into her office, which wasn’t unusual. She often gave Jo a rundown of the schedule for the day first thing. But today, as Jo put her bag down and hung up her jacket, Emma simply stood there, twisting her fingers together.
“Did you need something?” Jo asked.
“Um,” Emma said. “Ms. Jones.” She paused. “Have you by any chance seen TMZ this morning?”
“I have not,” Jo told her honestly.
“There’s—well.” Emma took a deep breath. “There’s some speculation. About why you took me to the ceremony last night.”
“Oh?”
Jo was being unfair. She should’ve made this easy on Emma. But she rather enjoyed watching her work her way through something.
Emma seemed to decide that the direct route was best. She dropped her hands to her sides and stood tall.
“They think we’re in a relationship,” she said.
Jo pressed her lips together. “How novel,” she said. “This is perhaps the first time two women seen together weren’t labeled gal pals.”
Emma offered a tight smile. If this were anything else, she would joke with Jo about it, her goofy grin coming easily.
“What are we going to do?” she asked.
“What are we going to do?” Jo parroted back at her.
Emma flailed more than shrugged. “How are we going to deal with this?”
Jo told Emma what she told Amir. “I’ve never once commented on my love life,” she said. “I’m not about to start now.”
Emma looked like a goldfish, her mouth opening and closing but nothing coming out.
Jo opened her computer and logged on. Perhaps she should actually read what people were saying.
“Jo, I—” Emma started. “Ms. Jones. It’s inappropriate. That people should think this. About either of us.”
Jo fluttered a hand. “If I got upset every time people thought I was sleeping with someone I shouldn’t, I’d be a lot less well-adjusted. Let it pass. They’ll move on eventually.”
“They’ve found my Instagram,” Emma said. “I’ve gained nine thousand followers since last night.”